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Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club
Rating Snapshot
About
One of the better public access courses in the state, Sky Creek Ranch boasts an immaculate Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design that is kept in immaculate condition by former Barton Creek Resort superintendent Steven Best. The clubhouse is perched atop the highest point in Tarrant County, and from this vantage point you’ll have a great view of the fine 419 Bermuda fairways and the bent-grass greens that are framed by a forest of oak trees and carved by the frustrating Big Bear Creek.
The key to Sky Creek is playing from the correct set of tees. Water comes into play on 16 of 18 holes, and most of the greens are elevated and surrounded by trouble that will make your score skyrocket. From the tips, high handicappers will struggle with their inconsistency, since there is virtually no room for error at any point on this course. Rounds from the more forward tees are amazingly different, with hackers being able to hit 4 irons off the tee and mid-short irons in–a huge advantage on this course.
Jones, Jr.’s design features five par 5s that offer some intriguing risk-reward opportunities. Three of them have water fronting the green, forcing hacks to think about going for home in two. No. 5 might be the best of the bunch: a snaking 534-yard hole that requires a precise fade around the dogleg right, followed by a perfect layup to be in position for the regulation approach. The creek circles around the elevated green, and trees loom left of the fairway for layups that stray too far left. This hole requires some strategy.
Sky Creek also offers five par 3s–some very difficult, and others nice respites from the other challenging holes. No. 14 is probably the scariest hole on the course, a 212-yard par 3 that is lined by trees on the left and a huge lake along the right and beside the green. This hole, which has ruined many a round, does have a small bail-out area left, but otherwise you’ll need a perfect shot to keep the score reasonable.
A bit pricey for some North Texas golfers, Sky Creek is worth it for the die-hards. In addition to the layout and condition, the practice facility is phenomenal–it features a driving range that plays downhill into an open valley with numerous target flags, as well as a large putting green that gives you a great feel for the round ahead. Chipping and pitching areas are available too.
Getting there : From Ft. Worth, take I-35W north to Exit 64. Turn right on Golden Triangle Rd. and drive 7 miles. Turn right on Bear Creek Pkwy. and drive to the Hidden Lakes subdivision (west side of road). Turn right on Promontory Dr. to the course.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | 72 | 6953 yards | 73.4 | 136 |
| Championship | 72 | 6367 yards | 70.8 | 127 |
| Club | 72 | 5940 yards | 69.4 | 120 |
| Club (W) | 72 | 5940 yards | 76.0 | 140 |
| Forward (W) | 72 | 5390 yards | 72.8 | 132 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional M: 74.8/138 | 416 | 442 | 409 | 168 | 551 | 374 | 566 | 171 | 430 | 3527 | 401 | 196 | 526 | 430 | 211 | 537 | 442 | 228 | 531 | 3502 | 7029 |
| Championship M: 72.6/133 | 384 | 420 | 364 | 148 | 496 | 349 | 515 | 134 | 390 | 3200 | 383 | 171 | 505 | 381 | 191 | 482 | 394 | 183 | 477 | 3167 | 6367 |
| Club M: 70.7/128 W: 76.5/144 | 362 | 398 | 340 | 136 | 470 | 317 | 489 | 116 | 370 | 2998 | 335 | 160 | 483 | 344 | 174 | 463 | 371 | 162 | 450 | 2942 | 5940 |
| Forward M: 68.6/117 W: 73.4/135 | 321 | 373 | 321 | 120 | 449 | 260 | 474 | 88 | 342 | 2748 | 295 | 113 | 437 | 318 | 130 | 442 | 348 | 139 | 420 | 2642 | 5390 |
| Handicap | 9 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 18 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 9 | 3 | 11 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 8 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Everything's great except it takes four and an half hours to play around
The course is in good shape, the greens are good, the staff is friendly, but the pace of play is absolutely atrocious. They run people every 8 minutes. We were stuck behind a foursome that took forever and we played with someone who had never shot a round of golf in their life before. It took four and a half hours. This is not the first time. Last time, it was backed up like crazy as well. I don't know if they are desperate for money, but I would rather pay an extra 10 or $15 more and have it spaced out by 15 minutes or more.
Sky Creek Ranch
Tame the 1st 5 holes and course becomes much more friendly! Course in good condition. On this day, a very nice pace at under 4 hours on a Saturday. Good Round.
Good and Pricey
Comparatively speaking the price might have been right for the course on a Saturday morning. The greens are really quick and roll true. I would play it again at a better rate. If you are a great long ball striker, do not go by the recommended handicap tees suggested at the course or you will end up hitting mostly irons off the box. If your handicap is high because you struggle with your short game, play a box back.
Nice layout
Greens were in great shape and rolled better than any public course I have played this year. I think $100 is pricey though. It my first time playing the course along with the guy that checked in behind me. I'm not sure why the staff provided playing tips to that group but not us, be consistent. I would return at a better rate.
First Time Playing
Loved every second of playing. Such a fun course with great value for your money.
Pitiful pace of play
Run 8 minute tee times and don’t have groups that are ready to play go if there are open slots, or combine twosomes, causing everything to back up. At one point on front 9 there were 4 groups on 1 hole(Noon Tee time). Beautiful course and condition, not worth an over 5 hour round.
Excellent Day on The Golf Course.
I played a full 18 holes. I had a fabulous time. I met new friends and just enjoyed myself.
Brutality Honest
Ok, let me tell you what I like about this course. I'm a two handicap. Everywhere I play, I tee off from the tips. I play every week, wherever I can get on. I'll travel an hour and a half to play at a nice course, no problem. This course, greens are great. I wish they were a little more faster, but the average golfer will be challenged with their speeds. Fairways, GREAT. Even from the tips, you'll have to pull out your 3wood to your hybrid to tee off l. Not every tee shot was a driver. So, the course gives you variety from the tee boxes. I like that. HERE'S THE PROBLEM, the front nine,especially. If you miss the greens to the left or the right, you're Fk'D Not penalized with a tough chance of up and down. No, you're FK'D. It's passed the point of not being fair. I can't imagine the average player trying to take a drop around the greens. No wonder the pace of play is crud. The average hacker has ZERO chance. The neck nine turns into a golf course. If there's a chance you don't make the green, you'll have a chance to save par. (Bunkers we're in great shape as well, even though I was never in one). But, I can't wait until the back nine to have some fun playing golf, so I won't be going back. There's nothing they can do. The design is what it is. Front 9 is narrow, but that's not an issue, it's challenging the way golf should be. But, the greens shouldn't be penalizing to the point of feeling FK'D. My brutal, but honest opinion.
Unprofessional staff
Very poor experience, we are not coming back here ever again.
1st complaint: beer can and trash in cart
2nd complaint: starter aggressively and repeatedly asks for tee time
3rd complaint: tee times every 8 minutes (painful slow pace of play)
4th complaint: rangers - 4 to 5 different guys driving around (one hole asking us to pickup pace and next hole another ranger comes by and apologize for slow group in front of us
5th complaint: rangers repeatedly stopping a cart with a woman player, asked them to pour out the drinks they had in their cart
Sees like her cart was targeted because she was a woman.
How about firing one or two of the rangers
Rushed
No less than 4 marshals/employees harassed us during play to have us keep up with the group in front of us even tho we were most of the time and we were not getting pushed from behind. It was quite irritating and unnecessary and it wasn't even a weekend. Two in our group left before the round was over partially due to the marshals.
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